Tycjan Chmiel
LightNews LightNews
banner
tycjanc.bsky.social
Tycjan Chmiel
@tycjanc.bsky.social
550 followers 400 following 3.3K posts
Cat slave and Swift landlord based in Szczecin, Poland, one of Europe’s largest population of White-tailed Sea Eagles 🦅 Keen on (urban) wildlife, active travel and Pogoń Szczecin.
Posts Replies Media Videos
tycjanc.bsky.social
Hello from the #GinjaBoiz in Poland 😻
Two ginger kitties cuddled up to each other on a brown sofa. The bigger one has his paws crossed and the smaller one has his tail wrapped around his body.
December 9, 2025 at 8:37 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Something tells me we’ve passed l’heure de l’apéro … #GinjaBoiz
A large ginger tom looks expectantly into the camera at close range. He is expecting his dinner.
December 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
I wouldn’t say I have a favourite tree but more a row of them (London Planes) at our Jasne Błonia park here in #Szczecin. Impressive in every season! They were planted over 100 years ago.
A sturdy London Plane tree rises from the grass, its mottled bark and sweeping branches creating a cool, leafy canopy. Sunlight filters through the green leaves, casting soft shade over the park and the quiet benches nearby. A snowy winter scene along an avenue of tall London Plane trees, their bare branches and thick trunks covered in fresh snow, forming a quiet white tunnel beside a snow-blanketed park and a line of parked cars. A tree-lined park path in summer, with tall London Plane trees arching overhead, dappled sunlight on a wide sandy walkway, and people strolling between parked cars on one side and a grassy field with others relaxing and playing on the other. A long avenue of London Plane trees stretches into the distance, their tall trunks and golden autumn leaves forming a glowing tunnel of colour. Fallen leaves carpet the path, while people stroll beneath the warm, dappled light.
December 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
LOL (it’s raining here too but not as obviously 😹)
December 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Good morning, all! 😺 As the sun is fighting its way over the horizon on another dull day here, please take a second or two to imagine the sunshine of a few days back and say hello to my friend the Willow in the park who’s looking resplendent in their winter outfit #ThickTrunkTuesday
A tall White Willow stands on a frosty green meadow, its soft, twiggy branches catching the morning sun against a clear blue sky. The tree’s wide, graceful shape gives it a calm, welcoming presence at the edge of the quiet woodland.
December 9, 2025 at 7:01 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Christmas Market at the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in #Szczecin, Poland. Performances, and lots of local foods and products, from cheeses to honey and proper mulled wine round a roaring fire 😺
A lively Christmas market set in a castle courtyard at night, with warm fairy lights draped across the old buildings. People wander between stalls on the wet cobblestones, and a small open fire glows in the foreground where a boy stands warming his hands. Colourful lights on trees and façades add a festive sparkle to the scene.
December 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Pumpkin! Do you mind? There’s some very serious business going on! 😹 #GinjaBoiz
A ginger and white tabby cat is lying upside down on top of a large white plastic brewing bucket with colorful "BA”labels (for BrowAmator - BrewAmateur) and a tap at the bottom.
December 7, 2025 at 10:09 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Here are the four seasons along one of my favourite paths at Jasne Błonia (Bright Meadows) in #Szczecin, Poland. The path runs from my house all the way to the forest, but this is just a small section behind the Town Hall. It’s lined with London Planes and in spring, thousands of crocuses.
A winter scene of an open piece of land lined by avenues of London Planes trees and a path heading into the distance with a snow-covered bench in the foreground. An open piece of parkland lined with an avenue of Plane trees and thousands of purple, yellow and white crocuses stretching into the distance. People are strolling alongside the flowers and taking photos. A path alongside an open grassed area with an avenue of Plane trees on the left. The trees are in full leaf. People are strolling down the path. A Plane-tree-lined avenue in Autumn. The leaves are golden with many on the ground. A wide path goes between the trees straight into the distance. A man is jogging and to the left of the picture others are sitting on benches and looking into an open park area.
December 7, 2025 at 9:37 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Here are some Polish ones 😺
A close-up photo of a chunky forest mushroom standing among dry brown leaves. It has a pale, slightly cracked cap with a patch of reddish texture on one side, and a tall yellow-orange stem that looks softly striped. The background is a blur of green foliage, giving the scene a calm, woodland feel. Close-up of a bumpy, pale pink fungus growing on a mossy tree trunk, covered in dozens of clear, shiny droplets that make it look wet and slightly translucent. A cluster of smooth, shiny white porcelain mushrooms stacked like little umbrellas along a fallen tree trunk in a leafy forest, with soft green light filtering through the trees in the background. A bright orange-and-red mushroom with white spots growing from the forest floor, surrounded by brown pine needles and a small pine cone, looking like a classic fairytale toadstool.
December 7, 2025 at 9:19 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
As Święty Mikołaj (St Nicholas) has been busy delivering small gifts to good Polish children overnight, here’s a special 6 December #PostboxSaturday from Bydgoszcz, where kids can drop off their letters on the square 😺
A brightly lit, oversized festive post box glowing in red and white on a winter evening in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The front features a cheerful cartoon Santa reading children’s letters, surrounded by stacks of envelopes. The decoration is trimmed with twinkling lights and star shapes, giving it a warm, Christmassy feel. A side view of the illuminated Christmas post box in Bydgoszcz, covered in red and white lights with glowing star decorations. A young child, bundled up in winter clothes, reaches towards the Santa illustration while an adult stands close by. Historic buildings and soft street lighting create a cosy festive atmosphere in the background.
December 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Reminds me of this:
December 5, 2025 at 8:39 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
I had a lovely trip down south to the castles of Lower Silesia (Dolny Śląsk). Summers in Poland are beautiful - long, warm days passed to the sounds of skylarks, corncrakes, bitterns and swifts 😻
Karpniki / Fischbach Castle. A fairytale-like pale cream castle with a tall turret reflected in its quiet moat, with a stone bridge leading to the entrance. It’s surrounded by bright summer greenery under a clear blue sky. Wojanów Castle. A beautiful, four-turreted castle with a red roof perfectly mirrored in the still pond below. Lush bushes and trees frame the scene on a sunny, cloudless day.
December 5, 2025 at 8:37 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Don’t you love it when their little paws are tucked in like this? 😻#GinjaBoiz
A close-up photo of a ginger tabby cat with white markings on its chest and paws, lying on a soft cream-coloured blanket. The cat is facing slightly to the left, with relaxed ears, bright round eyes, and a calm, gentle expression. A dark sofa and a striped cushion are blurred in the background.
December 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
A beautiful sunrise - one of the advantages of the winter is that I’m up to see them (and another is that the sun conveniently rises right in front of my window, unlike in summer) 😺 #Szczecin
A vivid sunrise sky filled with fiery orange and pink clouds, interspersed with patches of purple and grey. The dark silhouette of leafless trees stretches across the bottom of the picture, with the pointed spires of churches rising above them. The contrast between the glowing sky and the dark foreground creates a dramatic, atmospheric scene.
December 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Check out this mega Birch tree at the seaside resort of Świnoujście. Nice to see they built the footpath and bike lanes either side of it 😺 #ThickTrunkTuesday
A late-autumn street scene shows a paved pedestrian path and a separate reddish bike lane curving around a large tree with multiple trunks leaning over the paths. The ground is covered with fallen brown leaves, and the trees in the background are mostly bare against a grey sky. Beside the tree, a black-and-yellow striped road marker warns cyclists and pedestrians of the obstacle, while a car approaches on the road alongside and two people stroll in the distance.
December 2, 2025 at 7:18 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
The weather today’s a lot nicer than it was when I took these pictures at a very murky and nippy Świnoujście on Poland’s Baltic coast 😺 #ManholeCoverMonday
A round, metal manhole cover set in light grey paving stones. The cover is dark brown with a pattern of small, repeating cross-shaped cut-outs. At the top, there is the coat of arms of Świnoujście featuring a stylised eagle, with the city name “ŚWINOUJŚCIE” above it. Various manufacturer markings and the word “REXESS²” appear around the surface. A view along a wide, pale grey tiled promenade bordered by tall, autumnal trees. In the foreground, a round metal manhole cover with the Świnoujście coat of arms sits set into the paving. Beyond it, the promenade leads straight ahead towards the sand dunes and beach, with a narrow path rising gently between the trees. A tall signpost and a streetlamp stand on the right side of the path, while the surrounding vegetation is sparse and wintery.
December 1, 2025 at 10:28 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Greetings from the Christmas Market in Bydgoszcz, Poland 😺
A brightly lit Christmas market at night, featuring a large illuminated candy-cane decoration with a gold bow in the foreground. Behind it stands a tall, multi-storey Christmas pyramid decorated with lights, figures, and spinning blades at the top. Wooden stalls trimmed with garlands and fairy lights surround the scene, with people in winter clothing gathered to chat and buy food and drinks. The background shows historic buildings under the dark sky.
November 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Arrived a bit early for a family dinner at the Pod Orłem (Eagle) Hotel, Bydgoszcz. Nice to see they’re getting into the Christmas Spirit! Christmas Market later!
A warmly lit restaurant interior with high ceilings, Art Deco-style light fixtures, and red accent lighting. A long wooden dining table is set with glasses, plates, cutlery, and salt and pepper grinders. In the middle distance stands a decorated Christmas tree with lights next to a grand piano. Soft upholstered chairs and additional tables fill the background.
November 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Pumpkin always wants to ‘help’ me work in the study and has an interesting technique for doing so! (This is especially for the Doubting Thomases, yes you @deesidesparrow.bsky.social 😹) #GinjaBoiz
November 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Went for a stroll around Lake Głębokie, which is popular as a city bathing spot (the Polar Bear Club was out in force!) The lake is surrounded by mixed forest and includes several Natural Monuments, including this huge Oak (more info in ALT text). #ThickTrunkTuesday
A monumental oak from the “British Oaks” group in Szczecin’s Głębokie Forest Park, a large mixed woodland around Lake Głębokie. These protected natural-monument trees were named in honour of the British Repatriation Mission, which operated nearby between 1945 and 1947. After WWII, the newly-Polish city of Szczecin became a major transit point for huge population movements. The BPM worked with Polish authorities to move displaced people to and from the British occupation zone in Germany. Hundreds of thousands of mainly German but also Polish citizens passed through the city during this process. The “British Oaks” in Głębokie Forest Park were named to commemorate that mission, linking the park’s natural heritage with this complex post-war history.
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Experienced a very overcast day at the beach in Świnoujście, where I had the chance to admire the wide range of Gulls - Black-headed & Herring, mostly, but also some interesting Mallard Gulls, Swan Gulls, Hooded Gulls & Pigeon Gulls 😹 Not surprising when you consider the Baltic’s low salt levels.
November 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
A day-trip to the seaside resort of Świnoujście resulted in this attractive find in the new seafront development that houses a couple of fancy-ish hotels and a water park, among the souvenir shops and cafes. #ManholeCoverMonday
A round, dark metal manhole cover set in light grey paving stones. The cover features a textured pattern of small raised T-shapes and a central emblem with the coat of arms of Świnoujście, showing a stylised griffin. This is above an image of a Viking ship. The words “Baltic Park,” “Świnoujście,” and “Zdrojowa Inwest” are embossed on the surface. The manhole cover is set in a pedestrian area with shops and restaurants on the ground floor and modern multi-storey hotels and apartments with balconies and terraces above.
November 24, 2025 at 9:05 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Espero que podamos saludar al juvenil y a sus padres en Polonia la próxima primavera. Aquí hay algunos grupos de grullas que utilizan el río Odra para llegar a sus zonas de cría.
November 23, 2025 at 9:11 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
On a recent visit to Poland, my brother remarked that Poles don’t do ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ like Brits. This is true. Poles tend to be a bit more direct if they want people to do things. Hence ‘Put Your Phone Down and Live!’ on this crossing 😹
A zebra crossing with an instruction to pedestrians written on the pavement, designed to be read as the pedestrian is stepping into the road. It reads, in capital letters, PUT (YOUR) PHONE DOWN AND LIVE! and has a small image of a phone with a line through it, perhaps for the small toddlers who can’t yet read who may be trying to cross while scrolling through TikToks.
November 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
tycjanc.bsky.social
Polish post boxes must be some of the dullest on the planet, but luckily the Post Offices can be very attractive 😺 Here’s a typical 19th-century red-brick example, in the coastal resort of Świnoujście, with a rather attractive winter flower display of cabbages and chrysanthemums #PostboxSaturday
This beautiful old post office is built in the Neo-Renaissance style. You can see several classic features: Red brick walls with light stone details; Arched windows with decorative frames; A grand entrance with carved columns; A strong roofline with a big cornice and ornaments; Perfect symmetry – both sides look almost the same. Many 19th-century Polish Post Offices look like this, although we should remember that Świnoujście was part of Germany until the end of World War II so the architects would have been German. A cone-shaped outdoor winter flower arrangement made of ornamental kale (or cabbage - not sure) with silvery frilled leaves and clusters of pink, purple and yellow chrysanthemums. It stands on a paved street in front of a historic red-brick post office and a small red post box.
November 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM